While its season came to an end the Western Nevada Community College women's soccer team proved it could play with anyone on the nation.
WNCC lost in the first round in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs on Friday in Overland Park, Kan., losing to Laramie (Wyo.) County Community College 1-0. In Laramie, the Wildcats lost to a team that's ranked No. 4 in the national and advanced to last year's championship game.
The game against Laramie was one the Wildcats could have easily won. It appeared that WNCC had scored off of a corner kick in the first half. Courtney Lenhart touched the ball to Courtney Hayes, who sent the ball into the goal box.
After Savannah Gray touched the ball, it appeared WNCC had scored when Hannah Lee sent the ball into the net. But the Wildcats were ruled offsides on the play. "I don't know how we could have been offsides," WNCC coach Hillary Arthur said.
Laramie went on to score the game's only goal to take a 1-0 halftime lead that stood, but not without a challenge from the Wildcats. "We had some other really great opportunities," Arthur said.
Especially in the last eight minutes, Arthur said. On one chance, Courtney Lenhart was taken down in the goal box, Arthur said, but no foul was called that would have given WNCC a penalty kick. "I think it should have been called," Arthur said. "But I may be a little biased."
Despite the loss, it was a successful year for WNCC, which finished with a winning record (10-9-2) in its second season after finishing at .500 in its inaugural year. The Wildcats also won the Scenic West Athletic Conference Tournament title by beating North Idaho College 1-0.
"We accomplised our goals by winning the region," said Arthur about winning the Scenic West Tournament crown. "We've come a long ways, especially for a second year program."